Treasurer accused of ignoring inflation threat after giveaway measures aim to soothe cost-of-living pressures while shoring up votes. Follow the day’s news liveFind our full coverage of the 2024 budget hereGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastJim Chalmers said the government didn’t create a new system for the energy payments (so everyone gets it) because it is done through the energy retailers, who don’t have people’s income data.It’s not a cash payment paid directly to you – instead, it is paid through the energy sector, which takes money off your bill. In this case, $75 a quarter.I don’t see it in political terms. I think primarily the motivation of this budget is to help people who are doing it tough. More help is on the way for people who are doing it tough via the tax system, via their energy bills and with rent assistance and cheaper medicines and in other ways as well. That’s our primary motivation.Once you go beyond providing this to people on pensions and payments, you have to design a whole new system in order to create a new distinction. We are providing this energy bill relief to every household. We think that’s a good way to help things make things easier. Some of the other measures are more targeted. Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/may/15/australia-politics-live-budget-2024-reaction-labors-cost-of-living-chalmers-dutton-prepares-for-reply
Author : Amy Remeikis
Publish date : 2024-05-15 01:19:32
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